Punjab govt to revamp water supply system

Chandigarh, Apr 25 (UNI) The Punjab Government today decided to set up a task force to chalk out a long-term strategy to provide clean and uncontaminated canal drinking water and fight the alarming menace of water, soil and air pollution in the state.

According to Mr Harcharn Bains, Media Advisor to Chief Minister, the task force, which would function as an advisory cell, would comprise representatives from Punjab State Pollution control Board, Public Health, Irrigation, Health, Local Government and Industries departments.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal took cognisance of reports published in a section of the press about the contaminated canal water. An emergency meeting of senior officers was held this morning to consider decisive steps to combat this menace.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister expressed deep concern over the fragile drinking water supply system in the state in general and Malwa region in particular. He said for proper health protection of the public, new techniques of water purification should be adopted along with the revamping of the present system.

He emphasised the need for non-conventional techniques like Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Silver Ionization (SI) for the purpose.

These techniques can ensure total safeguards against water pollution.

The main reason of the water pollution in the state was the disposing of the untreated Industrial waste in the rivers.

Prominent amongst those who attended the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister D S Guru, Principal Secretary Local Government D S Bains, and Secretary Irrigation and Power Suresh Kumar, besides officers of Water Supply and Sanitation and Irrigation departments.

UNI HS GL KP1718